Really Effective

None of our products are officially supported or tested using the Windows Vista operating system.

However, as more and more people are using Windows Vista this post will be updated with any significant problems (and resolutions) that are reported by users with this operating system.

This is not an exhaustive list and due to several fundamental changes in the Vista operating system it is expected that there may be issues especially with respect to volume adjustment and installation.

Sound Control

• Volume adjustment does not work - there are no known workarounds or resolutions for this issue.

TICK

• No reported problems

After an extended break, some effort has been spent on a brand new and more modern design for the site.   Unfortunately both Sound Control and TICK have not had an update for quite some time now.  No promises and it depends how involved it becomes but I am hoping to release updates soon starting with Sound Control and if the update is well received it will be followed by a new version of TICK.   The new versions will be made available via the new Current Downloads feature, first as BETA releases to gather and fix any bug reports.  Depending on the general feedback and success of the release it will then be made the official download version.  When a release is made details of the changes will be posted as a new news item.  Please feel free to Contact Us if you have any feedback.

First released in July 1999 and updated regularly since, Sound Control is a freeware replacement Windows Sound Mixer applet which together with most of the features of the standard Windows mixer it also allows you to add hot keys to adjust any combination of your sound mixer volumes. Support to control Winamp with a series of hot keys, CD Player and an On Screen Display is also included. Supports Windows 95 / 98 / NT4 / 2000 / XP and Millennium-Me.  Review the Windows Vista Compatibility Notes.

Quick Menu

• Requirements
• Screenshots
• Features
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• Support

Requirements

• Windows 95 / 98 / NT4 / 2000 / XP / Millennium-Me
• 100% compatible Windows sound card or other audio device
• Winamp v2 or v5 (optional - full support)
• Winamp v3 (optional - limited support)

Screenshots

Features

General Features

• Increase and decrease the sound volume of any combination of mixers using definable hot keys
• Easily adjust any mixer if you have no corresponding control on your amplifier or if it is in a difficult to reach position
• Multiple languages supported
• No run-time files needed
• Context sensitive help
• Install / Uninstall support
• *No* nag screens
• *No* restricted features
• *No* Spyware, Adware or Malware
• *No* expiry date
• Sound Control is free to use subject to conditions given in the license

CD Player Hot Keys

• Play/Pause track hot key
• Previous track hot key
• Next track hot key
• Stop track hot key
• Jump To Track hot key
• Specify CD-ROM drive in multiple CD-ROM systems
• (Display track number in On Screen Display when it changes)

Other Options

• Automatically load Sound Control at startup
• Beep when hot key is processed
• Force Winamp’s Jump To File window to the top
• Enforce no mouse movement when single clicking for simple volume selector
• Hide tray icon
• Load default sound volumes at startup
• Specify double click on tray icon action
• Specify delay before simple volume selector is displayed
• Specify delay when interfacing with external applications

Mixers and Hot Keys

• Independant hot keys for each mixer, volume increase, volume decrease and mute
• Multiple Sound Card/Device support (limited)
• Synchronisation with external sound mixers (e.g. Sound Control will reflect any changes made using other sound mixer applications)
• Set and remove default sound levels for each mixer

On Screen Display

• Automatically position top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right, center or where last positioned with the mouse
• Configurable delay for how long On Screen Display remains on the screen
• Font Name configurable
• Font Style configurable
• Font Size configurable
• Font Colour configurable
• Outline any scalable font for easy viewing
• Specify default sound level increment
• (Display song name / track number in On Screen Display when it changes)

Miscellaneous Hot Keys

• Open Sound Control options hot key
• Global Disable of Sound Control hot key
• Load Default Volumes hot key

Application Hot Keys

• Hot key for Standard Windows Mixer
• Two user configurable hot keys for any applications

Winamp Hot Keys

• Full support for Winamp v2 or Winamp v5 limited support for Winamp v3
• Open Winamp/Playlist hot key
• Previous song hot key
• Play/Pause song hot key
• Next song hot key
• Stop song hot key
• Fast Forward hot key
• Fast Rewind hot key
• Volume Up hot key
• Volume Down hot key
• Jump to File hot key
• Jump to Time hot key
• 10 Tracks Back hot key
• 10 Track Forward hot key
• Information hot key
• ID3 Tag hot key
• Four configurable playlist hot keys for your favourite tracks
• Shuffle
• Open File
• Fade To Mute
• Preferences / Options
• (Display song name in On Screen Display when it changes)

Messages and Translations

• Foreign language translations of On Screen Display messages
• Configure alternative wording for all On Screen Display messages

After many years of success I have made the decision that due to personal reasons I have unfortunately decided the current version of TICK and Sound Control will be the last. With regret, this means Vista operating system support will not be implemented. The web site will remain open for the time being and support questions will still be read and answered if time permits. I am not totally discounting future versions but I currently do not have the energy, time, willpower or interest to continue these projects. It has been a difficult past few years and I wish to thank all users for their support and past interest in both TICK and Sound Control. When I think back to 1998 when I made the first public release of TICK (as it is called now) and back to 1999 for the first public release of Sound Control I have received great joy from these projects especially in the early years of development. If you wish to contact us please use the Contact Us facilities. Thank you and goodbye (for now).

Neither TICK or Sound Control support the new user switching functionality of Windows XP or above. If you wish to switch users you must fully restart Windows. This will avoid issues including the incorrect sound device being selected and unable to access data files the applications need to run successfully. You may find you need to install TICK or Sound Control in each users environment. In most cases you should be able to select the same installation folder but as before installing any application it is recommended you backup your data files. For example, your TICK Log folder which is normally found in c:\program files\tick. It is also important if you are experiencing issues to ensure all users have Administration level privileges.

Related Posts

• A Privileged Instruction Error Is Displayed?
• How Do I Uninstall?
• I Have Hidden The Tray / Notification Icon And Now I Cannot Change Any Of My Settings?
• Installation On Windows NT/2000 And Above
• Installing / Uninstalling On A Restricted User Account (Windows 2000 And Above)
• Some Of The Hot Keys Or Standard Keyboards Keys Do Not Seem To Be Working Correctly?

Windows NT/2000 and above introduces new security levels for users that can restrict access to the registry and files that Sound Control and TICK need to operate successfully. It is also important to ensure all users have Administrator level privileges especially whilst installing the applications. The latest versions of both Sound Control and TICK have had their setup application upgraded to allow restricted users to run the applications by adjusting the access level of the installation/data folders if required. You must still install from a user with Administrator level privileges. This fix is not available to Windows NT4 users who should ensure they continue to run the application with a user with Administrator level privileges.

Related Posts

• A Privileged Instruction Error Is Displayed?
• How Do I Uninstall?
• I Have Hidden The Tray / Notification Icon And Now I Cannot Change Any Of My Settings?
• Installing / Uninstalling On A Restricted User Account (Windows 2000 And Above)
• Some Of The Hot Keys Or Standard Keyboards Keys Do Not Seem To Be Working Correctly?
• User Switching (Windows XP And Above)

If you wish to uninstall a Really Effective product select the uninstall option from either of the following locations.

Start - Programs - Application Name - Uninstall
Start - Settings - Control Panel - Add/Remove Programs

Uninstalling Sound Control will remove all related settings within the registry together with the files installed to your Program Files\Sound Control folder. If you reinstall you will need to respecify your your hot key specifications and other options.

TICK stores it settings in the registry and within the Program Files\TICK\Logs folder (older versions may also store files directly within the TICK folder). Uninstalling will remove corresponding settings from within the registry and files installed to your Program Files\TICK folder. Any files created after you installed (for example your TICK\Logs folder containing your call log should not be removed. If you reinstall you will need to respecify you time bands and other options.

Before uninstalling or reinstalling any software you should ensure you have adequate backups of your data files, installing or uninstalling Really Effective products should be no exception to this rule.

If you have not been happy with your experience of using a Really Effective product please use the Contact Us facilities above to provide feedback.

Related Posts

• A Privileged Instruction Error Is Displayed?
• I Have Hidden The Tray / Notification Icon And Now I Cannot Change Any Of My Settings?
• Installation On Windows NT/2000 And Above
• Installing / Uninstalling On A Restricted User Account (Windows 2000 And Above)
• Some Of The Hot Keys Or Standard Keyboards Keys Do Not Seem To Be Working Correctly?
• User Switching (Windows XP And Above)